Mattie McGrath Demands Debate on Bail, Legal Aid and Tagging
Mattie McGrath spoke in the Dáil about the murder of Ashley Murphy and demanded an urgent debate on bail laws, free legal aid and electronic tagging. He accused the Department of Justice and the Government of foot-dragging and said too many people profit from the free legal aid system.
Request for an urgent debate
Mr McGrath said the Order of Business was agreed at a meeting last Thursday but that the horrific and barbaric murder of Ashley Murphy occurred afterwards, prompting a request for another debate. He asked for the new debate to be included to address bail laws, free legal aid and lack of tagging.
Concerns over bail laws and tagging
He said "the bail laws are wringing our hands" and insisted the State needs to look again at bail arrangements and the use of tagging as part of measures to prevent further incidents. The speech repeatedly returned to the need to examine those systems.
Criticism of the free legal aid system
While emphasising respect for the presumption of innocence, Mr McGrath argued there are too many people making money from the free legal aid system. He said the issue of who benefits from free legal aid needs scrutiny as part of the wider review.
Proposal for committee consideration
A response suggested the relevant DROCTIS committee would be the best forum for detailed consideration and reflection on the bail laws and related issues. It was also noted that the parliamentary agenda was fairly packed and the debate may not be possible during the current week.
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I want to raise the issue, while the Order of Business was agreed at our meeting last Thursday, the horrific and barbaric murder of Ashley Murphy took place afterwards. I want another debate here, notwithstanding that there are two debates, about the bail laws, about the free legal aid and about the lack of tagging. There is foot-dragging going on in the Department of Justice and the Successful Government that you have been involved in, in all these issues. We know that there are too many people out there, and I respect the premise that people are innocent and proven guilty, but there are too many people making money out of the free legal aid system. Deputy Deputy, it is in relation to the arrangements of the business. I am asking for a debate to be included, because it is since our business meeting that the horrific and barbaric murder took place. The bail laws are wringing our hands. We need to look at the bail laws, the free legal aid and all the other issues, including tagging. Deputy Seanan. Deputy Deputy McGrath. Deputy McGrath. Deputy Deputy McGrath. Deputy Deputy McGrath. Deputy McGrath. Deputy McGrath. Deputy McGrath. I think the best place for consideration of the bail laws, the various issues, which you have identified, would be the relevant DROCTIS committee, because those of all the definition there are issues that you need a detailed consideration of and reflection on. I think a lot of people in the House would like to examine those issues, but rather in a detailed way. maybe the relevant committee could take up that challenge in the first instance. Again, we have a fairly packed agenda this week and it may not be possible to include that this week.
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